Lisa Kellner
Deer Isle, ME United States
I make art work simply because I have to. It is the very best way that I know how to communicate in this world. While I enjoy experimenting, there is no greater feeling than applying paint to a surface and finding new ways to make a painting. My g... More
Artist Statement:
I make art work simply because I have to. It is the very best way that I know how to communicate in this world. While I enjoy experimenting, there is no greater feeling than applying paint to a surface and finding new ways to make a painting. My goal with every work I make is to create something that implores you to take a moment and experience it visually.
My paintings and wall sculptures explore the nature and fragility of the superficial layer. The paintings present the surface for what it is, a dubious facade wrought with hidden elements. The sculptural work removes the silk canvas from the stretcher bars and places it in the context of experiential space. Each work reveals its infrastructure, conceding how it was made. I am interested in how space is inhabited and choose materials that facilitate this. Silk enables me to experiment spatially while using it symbolically as a facade-like structure. It is deceptively strong, holds shape and pigment, yet allows for shadow and light to play a role in the work. With each piece, I investigate the reliance on surface while exploring what lies beyond, continually playing with the elements that constitute painting.
Since 2006, my work has been exhibited throughout the United States at venues such as the ?Bellevue Arts Museum? (WA), the ?Lower Manhattan Cultural Council? (NY), the ?Brooklyn Arts Council? (NY) and the ?Weatherspoon Museum? (NC), among others. In addition, I have worked with galleries including Ascent Contemporary (NY), Project 4 (DC), BravinLee Projects (NY) and JoAnne Artman (LA). My work has been reviewed in ??The New York Times?, ??The Boston Globe and ??Sculpture Magazine.? I have created site-responsive installations at the ?Cornell Fine Arts Museum? (FL), the ?Center for Maine Contemporary Art? (ME), ?Lehman College Art Gallery? (NY) and the Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory (VA). In 2016, I was awarded the New Media Invitational from the Target Gallery. I was also a Joan Mitchell semi-finalist. My work was recently included in the exhibition,? Materiality: The Matter of Matter
? at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.
Born in Virginia and raised in Jamaica, Australia, Denmark, and New York, I now live on a small island off the coast of Maine. Here, I am learning the lessons of nature and how to grow my own food.
My paintings and wall sculptures explore the nature and fragility of the superficial layer. The paintings present the surface for what it is, a dubious facade wrought with hidden elements. The sculptural work removes the silk canvas from the stretcher bars and places it in the context of experiential space. Each work reveals its infrastructure, conceding how it was made. I am interested in how space is inhabited and choose materials that facilitate this. Silk enables me to experiment spatially while using it symbolically as a facade-like structure. It is deceptively strong, holds shape and pigment, yet allows for shadow and light to play a role in the work. With each piece, I investigate the reliance on surface while exploring what lies beyond, continually playing with the elements that constitute painting.
Since 2006, my work has been exhibited throughout the United States at venues such as the ?Bellevue Arts Museum? (WA), the ?Lower Manhattan Cultural Council? (NY), the ?Brooklyn Arts Council? (NY) and the ?Weatherspoon Museum? (NC), among others. In addition, I have worked with galleries including Ascent Contemporary (NY), Project 4 (DC), BravinLee Projects (NY) and JoAnne Artman (LA). My work has been reviewed in ??The New York Times?, ??The Boston Globe and ??Sculpture Magazine.? I have created site-responsive installations at the ?Cornell Fine Arts Museum? (FL), the ?Center for Maine Contemporary Art? (ME), ?Lehman College Art Gallery? (NY) and the Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory (VA). In 2016, I was awarded the New Media Invitational from the Target Gallery. I was also a Joan Mitchell semi-finalist. My work was recently included in the exhibition,? Materiality: The Matter of Matter
? at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.
Born in Virginia and raised in Jamaica, Australia, Denmark, and New York, I now live on a small island off the coast of Maine. Here, I am learning the lessons of nature and how to grow my own food.
Education:
2008
Master of Fine Arts - Lesley University College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
2004-1999
Concentration in Drawing and Painting - School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
1999-1996
Concentration in Drawing and Painting - Art Students League, New York, NY
1987
Bachelor of Science - Boston University, Boston, MA
Master of Fine Arts - Lesley University College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
2004-1999
Concentration in Drawing and Painting - School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
1999-1996
Concentration in Drawing and Painting - Art Students League, New York, NY
1987
Bachelor of Science - Boston University, Boston, MA
Awards & Distinctions:
2016
Semi-finalist, Joan Mitchell Emerging Artist Award
2015
New Media Invitational Award, Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory, VA
2012
Artist Talk, VisArts, MD Visiting Artist, Slippery Rock University, PA
2010
BRIC Media Art Fellowship, BRIC Arts, Brooklyn, NY
2009
Swing Space Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural council, New York, NY
Finalist, RGASA Exhibition, NY Studio Gallery, New York, NY
Semi-Finalist, Trawick Prize, Bethesda, MD 2007 Semi-Finalist, Trawick Prize, Bethesda, MD
2005
First Place, All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VA
2004
Honorable Mention, All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VA
Studio Residency Program, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
2003
Residency Program, Jon Imber Studios, Stonington, ME
2000
Residency Program, Accademia Caerite, Rome, Italy
Semi-finalist, Joan Mitchell Emerging Artist Award
2015
New Media Invitational Award, Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory, VA
2012
Artist Talk, VisArts, MD Visiting Artist, Slippery Rock University, PA
2010
BRIC Media Art Fellowship, BRIC Arts, Brooklyn, NY
2009
Swing Space Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural council, New York, NY
Finalist, RGASA Exhibition, NY Studio Gallery, New York, NY
Semi-Finalist, Trawick Prize, Bethesda, MD 2007 Semi-Finalist, Trawick Prize, Bethesda, MD
2005
First Place, All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VA
2004
Honorable Mention, All Media Show, Artworks, Richmond, VA
Studio Residency Program, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
2003
Residency Program, Jon Imber Studios, Stonington, ME
2000
Residency Program, Accademia Caerite, Rome, Italy
Professional/Teaching Experience:
1996 - 2004 - Professional mural painter in New York city.
Exhibitions:
Solo Exhibitions:
2018
Upcoming solo exhibition, Gallery 263, Cambridge, MA
2016
Always into Now; a Painting in Space, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2014
Silent Space; Ward Center for Contemporary Art, Petersburg,VA
Chamber One; Ascent Contemporary, New York, NY
2013
Bringing on the Aither; Hunt Gallery; Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA
2011
Love is a Place; BravinLee Programs, New York,NY
Skin Deep, Miles Wide; Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery, Coker College, SC
2009
Suspended Presence, Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, MI
Surfacing Beneath, Brooklyn Arts Council Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2008
Inner Urban Sanctum, Providence Art Windows, Providence, RI
2006
Plain Matters, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA
Recent Group Exhibitions:
2017
Materiality: The Matter of Matter, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, ME
2016
The Space Between, JoAnne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Scribing the Void; ODETTA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2015
Access Art; Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
2014
Holiday Fair; Ascent Contemporary, New York, NY
2013
ADAPTATION;Project 4 Gallery; Washington, DC
2012
2012 Biennial; Curators Suzette McAvoy and Daphne Anderson Deeds, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
Space Invaders, Curator, Karin Bravin, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NY
The Mysterious Content of Softness; Curator, Stefano Catalani;
Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, FL
_____Scape; Curator, Susan Main; The Metropolitan Center for Visual Arts, Rockville, MD
2011
In Season, Project 4 Gallery, Washington, DC
The Mysterious Content of Softness,? Curated by Stefano Catalani, Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle, WA
2010
Art on Paper 2010 Biennial Exhibition, Curated by Xandra Eden; Weatherspoon Museum, Greensboro, NC
7th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit, Transformer Gallery, Washington, DC
Multiplied Within, Curated by Sky Kim, Able Fine Art, New York, NY
Unraveling Tradition, 516 Arts, Albuquerque, NM
Let There Be White,Birey Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Emergence,Curated by Brooke Hine, Bahdeebahdu, Philadelphia, PA
Drawn To It: The Art of Drawing, Amherst Street Gallery, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH
2018
Upcoming solo exhibition, Gallery 263, Cambridge, MA
2016
Always into Now; a Painting in Space, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2014
Silent Space; Ward Center for Contemporary Art, Petersburg,VA
Chamber One; Ascent Contemporary, New York, NY
2013
Bringing on the Aither; Hunt Gallery; Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA
2011
Love is a Place; BravinLee Programs, New York,NY
Skin Deep, Miles Wide; Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery, Coker College, SC
2009
Suspended Presence, Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, MI
Surfacing Beneath, Brooklyn Arts Council Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2008
Inner Urban Sanctum, Providence Art Windows, Providence, RI
2006
Plain Matters, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA
Recent Group Exhibitions:
2017
Materiality: The Matter of Matter, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, ME
2016
The Space Between, JoAnne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Scribing the Void; ODETTA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2015
Access Art; Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
2014
Holiday Fair; Ascent Contemporary, New York, NY
2013
ADAPTATION;Project 4 Gallery; Washington, DC
2012
2012 Biennial; Curators Suzette McAvoy and Daphne Anderson Deeds, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
Space Invaders, Curator, Karin Bravin, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NY
The Mysterious Content of Softness; Curator, Stefano Catalani;
Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, FL
_____Scape; Curator, Susan Main; The Metropolitan Center for Visual Arts, Rockville, MD
2011
In Season, Project 4 Gallery, Washington, DC
The Mysterious Content of Softness,? Curated by Stefano Catalani, Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle, WA
2010
Art on Paper 2010 Biennial Exhibition, Curated by Xandra Eden; Weatherspoon Museum, Greensboro, NC
7th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit, Transformer Gallery, Washington, DC
Multiplied Within, Curated by Sky Kim, Able Fine Art, New York, NY
Unraveling Tradition, 516 Arts, Albuquerque, NM
Let There Be White,Birey Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Emergence,Curated by Brooke Hine, Bahdeebahdu, Philadelphia, PA
Drawn To It: The Art of Drawing, Amherst Street Gallery, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH
Artistic Influences:
I am most intrigued by artists who turned a blind eye to the "Art World" and just made their work, unimpeded by the marketplace. These artists remind me that to be driven only by the work in front of you is the greatest achievement. Morandi and Agnes Martin come to mind. I admire artists whose ability to immerse in their process and severely edit their work. Cy Twombly and Gerhard Richter epitomize this. To love painting so much and to be willing to try new things are traits I hold dear. Richard Diebenkorn did this throughout his career. He reminds me that paintings need to gestate a bit; let them sit for awhile. Finally and most importantly, I admire Elizabeth Murray and Lee Bontecou as great women artists who taught me that it is important to live your life the way you want to and not by anyone else's idea of what a female artist should be. Thank you to all of these wonderful artists for helping to show me the way!
Artist Tags:
painting, abstract, mixed media, sculpture, oil, acrylic
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